USEFUL WEB LINKS
Safer sexInjecting drug use
Mother to baby
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Review of helpline advice: Risks of sexual HIV traHow to prevent HIV
How is HIV passed on?
You can get HIV in four ways:
- Through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner (the most common)
- By sharing needles or other contaminated injection or skin-piercing equipment
- Through blood and blood products through, for example, infected transfusions and organ or tissue transplants
- Transmission from infected mother to child in the womb or at birth and breastfeeding
HIV is not transmitted by casual physical contact, coughing, sneezing and kissing, or by sharing toilet and washing facilities, using eating utensils or consuming food and beverages handled by someone who has HIV; it is not spread by mosquitoes or other insect bites.
How can I practice safer sex?
The best way to stop HIV being passed on during vaginal or anal sex is by consistent and proper use of condoms. Condoms must be used with care if they are to be most effective. Use only water based lubricants with latex condoms. Oil based lubricants such as Vaseline, can damage the condom and cause breaks or tears.
There are two kinds of condoms you can use. A male condom fits over a man's erect penis and is made of very thin latex (rubber) or polyurethane (plastic). A female condom is made of very thin polyurethane. It is put into the vagina and loosely lines it. Femidom is the only female condom available in the UK.
Always make sure your condoms meet the stringent requirements of the British standards Kitemark - look for the Kitemark on the packaging. Also, look for the European Product mark, both marks are pictured below.
Condoms also protect against other sexually transmitted infections.
How safe is oral sex?
Oral sex is where one partner uses their tongue or mouth to stimulate their partner's genitals. There is a very low risk of HIV transmission from oral sex, it is much less risky than vaginal or anal sex without a condom. The risk can be further reduced by:
- Avoiding getting semen or pre-ejaculatory fluid in the mouth, particularly if there are any cuts, sores or ulcers in the mouth.
- Using a condom for oral sex with a man or a dental dam (a latex square) for oral sex with a woman.
Other sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, herpes and gonorrhea, can also be transmitted through oral sex. Using a condom or dental dam can help prevent this.
Are all condoms safe?
The use of condoms lubricated with the spermicide nonoxynol-9 (N9) is no longer recommended. N9 may cause irritations, particularly during anal sex, which could increase the risk of HIV transmission. Where possible, choose a condom that is not spermicidally lubricated. However, if this is not possible, using any condom is better than using no condom.
How can I minimise the HIV risk through injecting drugs?
HIV can be transmitted through sharing needles or other drug injecting equipment. If you do inject drugs you can protect yourself by:
- Never sharing needles or other injecting equipment, e.g. spoons, with anyone else
- Always using a new needle and syringe
- Sterilising needles and syringes between use
Will I pass HIV on to my baby?
With proper management, it is now possible to prevent the transmission of HIV from a mother to her unborn child. This is done by:
- The mother taking antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy
- Having a planned caesarean birth, if recommended by a doctor
- Putting the baby on a short course of antiretroviral treatment immediately after birth
- Not breastfeeding the baby
Following these steps reduces the risk of transmission to less than one per cent.
Are blood products safe?
All blood, blood products and donated organs in the UK are now screened for HIV to prevent transmission through infected blood products.
